Suspension type document file



2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Filed Jan 10, 1958 EAT) INVENTOR P501. 5. HoLeh EpR- BY Pam. B.HOL6

Pn-E ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 P. B. HOLGATE, JR,, ETAL 2,927,586

SUSPENSION TYPE DOCUMENT FILE Filed Jan. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I LI L /6 INVENTOR Paul. 6. HOLGHTEQJR:

L 5 .HOLGH E 2 ml.-

ATTORNEY SUSPENSION TYPE DOCUMENT FILE Paul B. Holgate, In, Philadelphia, and Paul B. Holgate, Newtown, Pa.

Application January 10, 1958, Serial No. 708,217-

3 Claims. (Cl. 129I6.7)'

This invention relates generally to files for documents 2,927,586 Patented Mar. 8, 1960 member is of a length corresponding to the length of the and particularly to the type thereof in which a series of folders are suspended vertically one behind another in a drawer, cabinet, or other receptacle by means of suspension members slidable upon rails or the like.

An important object of the present invention is to pro vide improved means for quick detachably securing together the meeting upper free edges of each successive pair of folders.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide'each pair of said meeting folder edges with a cover that is mounted upon one of said edges by improved means;

folders to cover the same and carry the associated sidewalls of the folders, the channel member being constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of,

the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged transverse sections of the channel member taken respectively on lines 2-25 and 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a number. of folders suspended one behind another by means-in. accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 is vertical longitudinal section showing a number of folders.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views showing different steps in the assembly of the channel member aforesaid with the associated folder side wall.

Figures 9 and 10 are similar to Figures 2 and 3 but show a modified form of the channel member.

Referring to the drawings, each folder is provided with a front side wall 10 an upper marginal portion 11 of which is folded downwardly and inwardly and adhesively secured to form a loop. The upper opposite end corners of the front side wall 10 are cut off diagonally, as at 12-12. Each folder is additionally provided with a rear side wall 13 an upper marginal portion 14 of which is foldeddownwardly and inwardly and adhesively secured to form a loop.

Through each loop aforesaid extends a suspension bar in the form of a metal strip 15 the opposite end portions of which project respectively beyond the opposite ends of the folder. The projecting suspension bar portions are notched, as at 16, and seated upon a pair of suitable rails 1717.

The rear side wall 13 and the front side wall 10 respectively' of adjacent folders have their looped upper marginal portions disposed in close adjacent side by side relametal strips 15, and the opposite end portions of each side wall thereof are notched, as at 22, and seated upon the rails 17 .-17.

The side wall 20 of the channel member is provided with areas suitably struck out and forming a pair of hooks 23-23 that are disposed respectively at opposite ends of the suspension bar 18. Each hook 23 extends laterally from the side wall 20" toward the side wall 19, as at 24, and then upwardly between the side walls 19 and 20, as at 25. Each hook 23 is disposed upon the outer side-of and close adjacent the associated diagonal cut 12 of the folders front side wall 10, and each end portion of the suspension bar 15 that extends through the looped upper marginal portion of the front wall 10 extends beyond the associated' diagonal cut 12 of the folders front side wall 10, and between the portion 25 of the associated hook 23 and the channel side Wall 2%.

The channel member 18 may be slidably fitted with a transparent member 26 that is operative to protect instructional matter inserted between the transparent member 26 andv the base wall 21 of the channel member.

In the assembly of a number of folders to make up a file thereof, suspension bars 15-are projected through the loops at the top of'thefoldersid'e walls 10 and 13. Referring particularly to Figure 6, the suspension bar 15 that is projected through the loop at the top of the folder side wall E0'is first positioned with the left hand end' thereof barely protruding from the looped upper marginal portion of'the side wall. Then the right hand end of a channel member 18 is slipped over the corresponding end of the suspension bar 15, in the direction of the arrow, sothat portion 24 of the hook 23 passes under the suspension bar 15 and the latter passes between the hook? portion: 25 and the side wall 201 of the channel member: 18'; The: channel member '20 is now swung downwardly and centered to align'the second hook 23 with the; suspensionv bar. 15,. whereupon the latter is shifted to theleftto enter the same between the hook portion 25: of. the secondlhoo'lcr23 and. the side wall 20' of the channel member 1:8 asrsh'owni in Figure 7', and to bring the notches 1616 of the suspension bar 15 into registry with the notches 22 of the channel member 18. In lieu of theforegoing procedure, the channel member 18 is applied to the looped upper marginal portion of the front side wall 10 and centered to align the hooks 23-23 with the open ends respectively of the looped portion aforesaid. Then suspension bars 15 are projected through the loops at-the top of the folder side walls 10 and 13. In the case of the suspension bar 15 that is projected through the loop at the top of the folder side wall 10, one end portion of this bar is entered endwise between the side walls 19 and 20 of the channel member and moved over the proximate hook 23, projected through the loop aforesaid and moved over the other hook 23. Then the suspension bar 15 is centered to bring the notches 1616 of the suspension bar into registry with the notches 22 of the channel member 18.

Finally, the several folders that are to make up the file, each fitted with a pair of suspension bars 15--15 and a suspension bar 18, are aligned one behind another upon the rails 1717 with the looped upper marginal portion of each rear side wall 13 removably tucked into the channel member 18 that is mounted upon the front side wall 10 of the next adjacent folder, being frictionally held between the channel side wall ,H and the looped upper marginal portion of the front side wall also disposed in the channel member 18.

It will be observed that, with the folders suspended with their edges horizontal and disposed oneibehind the other, any folder may be engaged with or disengaged from the next adjacent folder by simple vertical movements, and such engagement and disengagement may be effected with the folders in position in the files. In addition, the folders are exceedingly rugged in use and will sustain a relatively heavy load without any disengagement of folders one from another. V

It will be understood that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing, from the real spirit or general principles of the invention. For example, in lieu of a pair of hooks 23-123 struck, out from the side wall 20 of the channel member, the latter may be provided with areas suitably struck outand forming a pair of straps 2727, which strapsiare in every respect similar to the hooks 23 23, except that the upper end portions thereofare not severed from the side wall 20 of the channel member. As shown, in Figures 9 and 10, each strap 27 extends laterally from the side wall 20 toward the side wall 19, as at 28, then upwardly between the side Walls 19 and 20, as at 29, and then laterally back to the side wall 20, as at 30. Accordingly;. it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a filing system having at least two folders each with a front and back wall conjointly forming a pocket therebetween' closed at the bottom and open at the top, the upper portions of said front and back walls being folded and secured to provide each wall with a longitudinally extending upper marginal portion of looped transverse section, and wherein the folders are disposed with the looped marginal portion of the-front wall of one folder in close adjacent parallel relation to the looped marginal portion of the back wall of the other folder;

folder suspension apparatus comprising a transversely oriented suspension bar in the form of a flat strip member extending through the looped upper marginal portion of each wall of said folders, and a channel member of inverted U-shape in cross, section having depending parallel side walls of substantially equal depth embracing the looped upper marginal back wall portion of the front folder, the looped upper marginal front wall portion of the rear folder and the-suspension bars extending through the upper marginal portions of said folders, said channel member being removably fitted over one of said embraced marginal portions free of any connection with the suspension bar thereof, and means for detachably securing said channel member to the other of the embraced marginal portions by interlocking connection with the suspension bar thereof, said means including a pair of bar-engaging elements respectively provided adjacent opposite ends of the channel member, said elements being inwardly struck-out of one wall of. the channel member above the bottom edge thereof in spaced relation thereto and disposed substantially midway between the opposite parallel walls of the channel member whereby to permit the suspension bar of one wall part of one folder to be retained within said channel member by extension of said bar between said elements and the first-mentioned wall of the channel member while permitting the adjacent wall part of the other folder to befreely inserted between said elements and said opposite wall of the channel memher, said wall of the folder detachably secured to the channel member having its Opposite upper corners cut away, thedistance between said bar engaging elements being substantially equal to the distance between opposite edges formed by said cut away corners, said lastmentioned wall being positioned interiorly of the channel member between and in non-overlying relation to said bar-engaging elements and so preclude lengthwise shifting of the folder relatively to the channel member, the system being further characterised in that said channel member and the suspension bars embraced thereby all extend beyond the opposite ends of the folders for engagement with support means to provide a suspension for the folders.

2. In a filing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said elements are each in the form of hook-shaped projections disposed with their free ends presently upwardly toward and terminating short of the top wall of the inverted channel member.

3. In a filing system asdefined in claim 1 wherein said elements are in the form of straps integrally joined at their opposite ends to the wall of the channel to provide loops for respectively receiving said exposed end portions of the suspension bar.

-' References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 526,470 Great Britain Sept. 13,1940 240,624 Switzerland May 1, 1946 595,996 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1947 454,473: Italy l Jan. 19, 1950 

